Automatic door-closing device



1929- A. T. CAMPBELL ET AL AUTOMATIC DOOR GLQSING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 29, 1927 Oct. 15; 1929. ALT. CAMPBELL ET AL 1,731,561

AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed April 29, 192? s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1929. A. T. CAMPBELL ETAL AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSING DE ICE Filed April 29, 1927 3' Sheets-Sheet 5 NN Q Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR TALBOT CAMPBELL AND MORSE CHRISTIAN HEINEMANN, OF SEATTLE, WASI-I- INGTON, ASSIGNORS TO PACIFIC SPRING HINGE COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHING- TON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON AUTOMATIC DOOR-CLOSING DEVICE Application filed April 29, 192?.

This invention relates to automatic door closing devices, and more particularly to those having springs for causing automatic closing of a door, after the door is opened and then 5 released.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction whereby an automatic door closing device of this kind is combined with one of 19 the hinges of the door, so that the hinge and the door closing device constitute a structural unit, and whereby the simple operation of fastening the hinge to the door and the door frame is sufficient to mount the door closing device in position to operate in the desired manner.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of a combined hinge and door closing device of this particular character. To these and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on line 22 in Fig. 2, showing a combined hinge and door closing device embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a different form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure 35 shown in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a different form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the door in open position.

As thus illustrated, and referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the invention comprises a hinge having the 45 two plates 1 and 2 thereof hinged together by the pintle 3 inserted in the pintle bearing portions 4 and 5 of said plates. A bracket comprising a wall 6 and parallel side walls 7, is secured by rivets 8 to the plate 1 of the hinge, as shown, and a similar bracket com- Serial No. 187,552.

prising a wall 9 and parallel side walls 10 is secured by rivets 11 to the plate 2 of the hinge,

The brackets 7 and 10 are connected by a tube 12 which is provided with a transverse pivot 13 at one end thereof, which pivot is connected by the links 14 with the trunnion bearings 15 on the bracket portion 7 previously mentioned. The portions 7 have notches 16, as shown, to receive the ends of the pivot 13 at certain times, and the portions 7 are connected by a rivet or pin or bolt 17 to form a. stop for the tube 12 previously mentioned. At its other end the said tube 12 is provided with longitudinal slots 18 for the sliding crosshead 19, which crosshead is provided with outer end portions 20 mounted to turn as trunnions in the side portions 10 of the bracket.

The pivot 13 and the cross head 19 are connected together by a spring mechanism comprising an inner tube 21 mounted to turn on or with the pivot 13, and having its outer end portion provided with a stufiing box 22 of any suitable or desirable character through which stuffing box a plunger rod 23 extends into the tube. The end of the plunger rod 23 is provided with a plunger head 24 having openings 25 therein, and a slidable valve disc 26 is mounted on the plunger rod adjacent to said head, to alternately cover and uncover said openings, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The other end of the rod 23 is threaded in the crosshead 19, and is provided with a shoulder plate 27 to form a seat for the coil spring 28, the other end of this coil spring being seated against the pivot 13 previously mentioned. Outer end of the rod 23 is provided with a notch 29, whereby the rod can be rotated by a screw driver, thereby to vary the distance between the head 19 and the shoulder plate 27, thus regulating the tension of the spring 28 to obtain the desired action when the device is in use on a door. When the desired adjustment has been accom plished, the rod 23 is then held against rotation by the lock nut 30 which bears against the outer side of the crosshead 19.

In use the combined hinge and door closing device thus shown and described is secured in place by inserting screws through the holes 31 in the plate 2, into the door, and by inserting screws through the holes 32 in the plate 1 into the door frame or into some other stationary portion of the doorway or building. When the door is opened, the crosshead 19 will slide relatively in the slots 18, thus compressing the spring 28 in a manner that will be readily understood. At the same time, the oil 33 or other liquid in the tube 21 will flow through the openings 25, to the other side of the plunger head, thus permitting the opening of the door. Then, when the door is released, the spring 28 will by its expansion slowly close the door, the valve disc 26 at such time being forced against the openings 25, whereby the only way the oil or other liquid can pass from the right of the plunger head to the left thereof will be between the outer edges of the plunger head and the inner surface of the tube 21, thus permitting the door to close slowly. But, preferably, the tube 21 is tapered slightly from the pivot 13 to the stuffing box 22, whereby the leakage around the edges of the plunger head 24 becomes greater as the plunger head approaches the stuffing box, which is advantageous inasmuch as the power of the expanding spring is becoming less as the door approaches its closed position. This, in effect, reduces the retarding movement of the door check portion of the device, thus insuring a proper and firm closing of the door at the end of the final expansion of the spring by which the door is closed.

The links 14, it is found, are advantageous, inasmuch as they serve, when combined with the other elements in the manner shown, to reduce the amount of movement necessary for the spring 28, for the lengthening and shortening thereof, thus prolonging the life of the spring.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the construction and mode of operation are similar, to that previously described, but in this case there is no oil check, but instead there is an air cushion device which functions to cushion or check the closing movement of the door. In this construction, the spring 34 functions as does the spring 28 previously mentioned, to close the door, but in this case a rod 35 is slidably mounted in the cross head 36 and said rod is provided at one end with a head 37, and betweenthishead and the crosshead a coil spring 38 is mounted for compression on said rod. At its other end the rod 35 is provided with a plunger head 39 which is capable of moving with the rod to the left in the tube 40. without retardation, but which when caused to move to the right in said tube acts as an air plunger to force the air out of the opening 41 in the end of the tube, thus checking or retarding the closing of the door. A

. sleeve 42 is mounted on the rod 35, between tho crosshead 36 and the plunger head 39, and in this way, when the door is open, the cross head will compress the springs 34 and 38, but the spring 38 will slowly expand until the plunger 39 has drawn in a full supply of air through the opening 41 previously mentioned. Then, when the door is released both springs act to close the door, and such closing movement is retarded by the compression of the air in the tube by the plunger head 39, and by the slow escape of the air through the opening 41, thus preventing the door from slamming. By rotating the rod 35, which is screw-threaded in the plunger head 39, it is obvious that the tension of the spring 38 can be varied, thereby regulating the device to properly close the door.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the construction and mode of operation are similar to that previously described, but in this case there is no door check device of any kind. In this construction, therefore, the spring 43 is combined with the tube 44 and the other elements, similar to those previously described, in a manner to automatically close the door, and such closing action is susceptible of regulation by the screw 45, which is threaded in the crosshead 46, which has its inner end provided with a shoulder 47 for the said spring. A look nut 48 will hold the screw in the desired adjustment, thus regulating the tension of the spring and thereby the closing action of the door. WVhen the door is open, the spring 43 is compressed by the sliding movement of the crosshead 46 in the tube, when the door is released the spring automatically closes the door.

In each form of the invention, therefore, the links 14 are the same, and the plates 1 and 2 are the same, and the said links have the advantage of reducing the amount of movement of the large coil spring by which the door is closed in each case, thus, as previously explained, prolonging the life of the spring, inasmuch as the less the compression of a spring of this kind, the longer it will last.

The invention can be used on doors of different kinds, in different positions, and is well adapted, for example, for use on fire doors, and on other doors where absolute certainty of closing is necessary.

With the construction shown and described, in each form of the invention, it will be seen the tube has both endwise sliding and pivotal trunnion support on the plate 2, and has pivotal support on the plate 1, said pivotal support comprising links pivoted at one end on the tube and pivoted at the other end on the plate, it being understood that the portions 1, 7 form one entire plate or member of the hinge, while portions 2, 10 form the other entire plate or member of the hinge. In this way, therefore, the tube has tilting or pivotal support on each plate, as well as endwis'e .sliding support on one plate.

forming the hinge, spring actuated door closing mechanism extending as a medium of connection between said plates, and links supporting said mechanism on one plate, the mechanism having both tilting and endwise sliding trunnion support on the other plate, said links being pivoted on said mechanism and also pivotally connected with said one plate, whereby said mechanism has tilting motion relatively to both plates when the door is opened and closed.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said mechanism comprising a tube having a transverse member forming the pivots thereon for said links, a spring in said tube, said spring hearing at one end against said transverse member, a crosshead in the other end portion of the tube, the tube having longitudinal slots to permit the relative movement of said crosshead therein, operative thereby to compress said spring when the door is opened, said crosshead forming said trunnion support on said other plate.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said mechanism comprising a tube having a transverse member forming the pivots thereon for said links, a spring in said tube, said spring bearing at one end against said transverse member, a crosshead in the other end portion of the tube, the tube having longitudinal slots to permit the relative movement of said crosshead therein, operative thereby to compress said spring when the door is opened, said crosshead forming the trunnion support on said other plate, a rod rigid with said crosshead, and an inner tube having one end portion mounted on said transverse member, said rod having a plunger head for relative reciprocation in said inner tube, a liquid in said inner tube and means co-operating with said plunger head whereby a liquid door check is provided to retard the closing movement of the door.

4:. A structure as specified in claim 1, said mechanism comprising a tube having a transverse member forming the pivots thereon for said links, a spring in said tube, said spring bearing at one end against said transverse member, a crosshead in the other end portion of the tube, the tube having longitudinal slots to permit the relative movement of said crosshead therein, operative thereby to compress said spring when the door is opened, said crosshead forming said trunnion support on said other plate, a rod rigid with said crosshead, and an inner tube having one end portion mounted on said transverse member, said rod having a plunger head for relative reciprocation in said inner tube, a liquid in said inner tube and means co-operating with said plunger head whereby a liquid door check is provided to retard the closing movement of the door, said inner tube being tapered in one direction to gradually decrease the retarding action, thereby to insure closing of the door by the gradually expanding spring outside said inner tube.

5. A combined door hinge and door closing device comprising hinge connected plates forming the hinge, spring actuated door closing mechanism extending as a medium of connection between said plates, and links connecting said mechanism to one plate, said links being pivoted on said mechanism and also pivotally connected with said one plate, including a. stop to limit the movement of said mechanism in one direction, disposed adjacent to said links, disposed between said mechanism and said hinge plates, to limit the closing movement of the door.

6. A combined door hinge and door closing device comprising hinge connected plates forming the hinge, spring actuated door closing mechanism extending as a medium of connection between said plates, and links connecting said mechanism to one plate, said links being pivoted on said mechanism and also pivotally connected with said one plate, including a stop to limit the movement of said mechanism in one direction, disposed adjacent to said links, disposed between said mechanism and said hinge plates, to limit the opening movement of the door.

7. A combined door hinge and door closing device comprising hinge connected plates forming the hinge, spring actuated door closing mechanism extending as a medium of connection between said plates, and links connecting said mechanismto one plate, said links being pivoted on said mechanism and also pivotally connected with said one plate, said mechanism comprising a tube having a trans verse member forming the pivots thereon for said links, a spring in said tube, said spring bearing at one end against said transverse member, a crosshead in the other end portion of the tube, the tube having longitudinal slots to permit the relative movement of said crosshead therein, operative thereby to compress said spring when the door is opened, said crosshead having trunnions supported on one of the hinge plates.

' 8. A door closing device comprising plates and mechanism forming a medium of connection between the two plates, having movable support on one plate and both tilting and endwise sliding trunnion support on the other plate, said mechanism having spring means for closing the door, and having checking means to retard the closing movement of the door, and means to secure one plate to the door and the other plate to a fixed support,

whereby opening and closing of the door causes said movement of said mechanism on said plates.

9. A combined door hinge and door closing device comprising hinge connected plates forming the hinge, spring actuated door closing mechanism extending as a medium of connection between said plates, and links connecting said mechanism to one plate, said links being pivoted on said mechanism and also pivotally connected with said one plate, said mechanism comprising a tube having a transverse member forming the pivots thereon for said links, a spring in said tube, said spring bearing at one end against said transverse member, a crosshead in the other end portion of the tube, the tube having longi tudinal slots to permit the relative movement of said crosshead therein, operative thereby to compress said spring when the door is opened, said crosshead having trunnions supported on the other one of the hinge plates, a rod rigid with said crosshead, and an inner tube having one end portion mounted on said transverse member, said rod having a plunger head for relative reciprocation in said inner tube, a liquid in said inner tube and means co-operating with said plunger head whereby a liquid door check is provided to retard the closing movement of the door.

10. A combined door hinge and door closing device comprising hinge connected plates forming the hinge, spring actuated door closing mechanism extending as a medium of connection between said plates,andlinks connecting said mechanism to one plate, said links being pivoted on said mechanism and also pivotally connected with said one plate, said mechanism comprising a tube having a transverse member forming the pivots thereon for said links, a spring in said tube, said spring hearing at one end against said transverse member, a crosshead in the other end portion of the tube, the tube having longitudinal slots to permit the relative movement of said crosshead therein, operative thereby to compress said spring when the door is opened, said crosshead having trunnions supported on the other one of the hinge plates, a rod rigid with said crosshead, and an inner tube having one end portion mounted on said transverse member, said rod having a plunger head for relative reciprocation in said inner tube, a. liquid in said inner tube and means co-operating with said plunger head whereby a liquid door check is provided to retard the closing movement of the door, said inner tube being tapered in one direction to gradually decrease the retarding action, thereby to insure closing the door by the gradually expanding sprmg.

11. A door closing device comprising a plate for securement to the door, a plate for securement to a support, a tube forming a connection from one plate to the other, hav- 

